Disposable diaper



Jan. 26, 1954 L. e. LOVEKIN DISPOSABLE DIAPER Filed 001:. 4, 1951 Zinnentor Lmmsa El. LUVEKIN (Ittomeg Patented Jan. 26, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a disposable diaper, and has for an object to provide a diaper of simple construction and formed of inexpensive materials, enabling it to be produced and sold at a price commensurate with its intended singleuse disposable character. To this end it is proposed to employ as the main body of the diaper layers of highly moisture-absorbent material, such for instance as cellulose in the form of a relatively large number of superimposed crinkly, soft-textured paper layers, this material also having a high degree of air permeability and the capability of rapid evaporation of moisture therefrom.

It is a further object to provide a specific arrangement of absorbent layers whereby a central front to rear area of the absorbent body gives extra absorption where most needed, it being particularly proposed to provide such area of increased thickness, yet so arranged that it will not act as the top of a pyramid with a tendency to make the diaper spill. To this end I propose to provide a sandwich of layers in which relatively wide absorbent layers are provided above and below a central strip of relatively narrow absorbent layers, the upper layers, which are preferably relatively thin, providing a retaining covering for the central strip, protecting it against displacement and the passage of solid matter beneath it, and the lower layers, which are preferably relatively thick, providing support for the central strip having a high degree of resistance to disintegration and breakage.

A further object is to provide a retaining envelope or enclosure for the absorbent layers which will provide a high degree of tensile strength at the outer side of the diaper and a non-irritating skin-engaging surface at the inner side, and to this end it is proposed to provide a single sheet of fabric material, preferably cotton gauze, so folded as to provide a single layer at the inner side and a plurality of layers at the outer side. It is also proposed that such envelope be such as not to interfere with air circulation, so that rapid external evaporation of moisture may take place, thus protecting the infants skin from the irritating and mascerating effects of too-long contact with entrapped moisture, and such as takes place in diapers heretofore proposed having a moisture impervious layer interposed between the inner and outer sides.

Another object is to provide a diaper having outwardly disposed end folds 'for pinning, and which constitute an encircling belt at the upper edge, having a high degree-of resistanceto stretching, thus making for reliable securing of the diaper with greater comfort to the infant, and increased protection against soiling of outer garments.

A still further object is to provide a clearly visible marking indicating the outer side of the diaper, thus insuring its proper placement on the infant.

With the above and other objects in view an embodiment of the invention is shownin the accompanying drawings, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l isa perspective view showing the several components of the diaper in superhnposedrelation, the dot-and-dash lines indicating fold lines.

Fig. 2is1a perspective'view showing the envelope folded about the moisture absorbent layers, the outer side being at the top.

Fig. '3 is a perspective view showing the completed diaper with the ends of the envelope folded in place.

Fig. 4 .is an enlarged transverse sectional view, taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view, taken along the line 15-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the diaper as worn by an infant.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding par-ts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to thedravvings, the main absorbent body of the diaper, according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention shown herein, comprises a sandwich .of absorbent layers consisting of absorbent cellulosie paper-like ma terial, for instance, cellulose sulphite, this material "being in the form of a plurality of paper-like sheets or films having a relatively soft, loose, crln'kly texture. Such material has heretofore been used for similar purposes, as shown for instance in the patents to MacKenzie, No. 1,674,660. dated June 1 9, .1928, and 2.062.978, dated December :1, I936. A layer of such material, as commerciallytproduced, usually consists of a num ber of thin sheets or films of cellulosic paper-like material, for instance 18 sheets, which due to their soft crinkly :texture tend to cling to each other to form a substantiallyhomogeneouslayer of soft, loose texture having substantial thickness, for instance about of an inch, and which is highly absorbent, has a high degree of wet strength, and provides ior .air circulation and rapid evaporation of moisture. For the purpose of the present disclosure the reference herein to a layer of absorbent material contemplates such a superimposed number of sheets.

The absorbent sandwich comprises an outer part 10, consisting of a plurality of layers of absorbent material of generally rectangular shape, an intermediate part I I, also consisting of a plurality of layers of rectangular shape and substantially narrower and shorter than the outer part iii, and an inner part 12, relatively thinner than the outer and intermediate parts, and preferably consisting of a single layer of material and of corresponding size and shape to the outer part ill. The corners of the outer and inner layers are rounded as at 3 and 14, to provide clearance spaces for pinning, as will hereinafter more fully appear. These parts are placed in superimposed sandwich form, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with the intermediate part II centered between the parts H and i2. I

The terms outer and inner with reference to the parts IE! and 12 are to be understood as referring to the outward and inward disposition of these parts when the diaper is being worn. While the dimensions of the parts making up the absorbent body may vary, it has been found that satisfactory dimensions for the outer and inner parts are 8 inches by 14 inches, and for the intermediate part 4 inches by 10 inches, so that the edges of the intermediate part are substantially 2 inches from the edges of the outer and inner parts.

The enclosing and retaining cover or envelope consists of a single rectangular piece of woven material 15, having a relatively open mesh weave, such for instance as surgical gauze, and this material is preferably of the type which is filmated with absorbent cotton or equivalent material in a free fibrous state, which gives it a soft surface texture for more comfortable engagement with the skin of the infant, and which is at the same time porous and absorbent. The sheet l comprises an intermediate portion it, for engagement with the inner part l2 of the absorbent body, end portions I1 and I8, foldable with respect to the intermediate portion 5 along fold lines 19 and 20 in overlying double-thickness relation to the outer part IQ of the absorbent body, and longitudinal marginal portions 2i and 22, which are folded following the folding of the parts I! and 18 along fold lines 23 and 24 upon the outer side of the diaper, as shown in Fig. 3. These fold lines 23 and 24 are substantially adjacent the ends of the absorbent body, and the width of the marginal portions 2| and 22 is substantially equal to the spacing of the ends of the intermediate absorbent layers H from the outer and inner layers [0 and I2, so that the edges of the folded-over marginal portions lie substantially adjacent the ends of the intermediate layers H and thus serve to maintain their position within the absorbent body. The width dimension of the cover portions i6, H and I8 is substantially greater than the width dimension of the absorbent body, so that the diaper is provided at each side of the absorbent body with marginal portions formed entirely by the gauze material I5. It has been found desirable in practice to make these marginal portions about 1 inch in width.

In order to easily identify the outer side of the diaper, so as to insure that the outer layers of the absorbent body and the double-thickness side of the cover are outwardly disposed when the diaper is placed upon the infant, a colored stripe 25 is provided along the center line of the cover portion 11, which is disposed outwardly when the cover is folded, as shown in Fig. 3. This stripe may be printed, woven or otherwise suitably applied.

The diaper is fitted upon the infant as shown in Fig. 6, being secured by safety pins 26-25 which are engaged in the overlapped corners. Because of the rounding of the corners l3 and I4 of the absorbent body, relatively wide corner areas are provided for overlapping and pinning through the gauze cover material alone, and considerable latitude is provided for varying the size of the waist band formed by the folded over portions 2! and 22. The waist band has the advantages of effectually maintaining the position of the diaper on the infant, of preventing displacement of the absorbent layers, and of insuring against soiling of the outer garments. The absorbent body is such that a relatively great thickness of absorbent material is provided centrally where it is most needed without excessive crowding or bunching, a smooth surface is provided at the inner side by the relatively thin absorbent layer I0 and relatively great wet and tensile strength is provided at the outer side by the absorbent layers l2. The double thickness cover portions 11 and [8 provide increased tensile strength at the outer side, while the single thickness cover portion l6 provides a highly porous layer next to the skin. At the same time the diaper allows air to permeate the absorbent material and permits rapid evaporation of fluid therefrom, so that the harmful irritating and mascerating effect to the infants skin of too-long contact with moisture is prevented. Because of the rapid evaporation of fluid there is no need to change any more frequently than with regular cloth diapers.

I have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A diaper, comprising a moisture absorbent body consisting of inner and outer paper-like layers of cellulosic material of substantially rectangular shape and an intermediate paper-like layer of cellulosic material sandwiched between said inner and outer layers and having its side and end edges spaced inwardly from the side and end edges of said inner and outer layers, said outer layer being substantially thicker than said inner layer, and a covering consisting of a rectangular piece of open mesh gauze material folded about said absorbent body.

2. A diaper, comprising a moisture absorbent body consisting of inner and outer paper-like layers of cellulosic material of substantially rectangular shape and an intermediate paper-like layer of cellulosic material sandwiched between said inner and outer layers and having its side and end edges spaced inwardly from the side and end edges of said inner and outer layers, said outer and intermediate layers each being substantially thicker than said inner layer, and a covering consisting of a rectangular piece of open mesh gauze material folded about said absorbent body.

3. A diaper, comprising a moisture absorbent body. consisting of inner and outer paper-like layers of cellulosic material of substantially rectangular shape, and an intermediate paper-like layer of cellulosic material sandwiched between said inner and outer layers having its side and end edges spaced inwardly from the side and end edges of said inner and outer layers, and a covering consisting of a rectangular piece of open mesh gauze material including an intermediate portion at the inner side of said absorbent body, end portions folded parallel to the side edges of said absorbent body in superimposed relation at the outer side of said absorbent body, each of said end portions entirely covering said outer side, and marginal portions folded parallel to the end edges of said absorbent body upon the outer side thereof and of a width substantially equal to the spacing of the ends of said 15 2062978 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,599,648 Cochran Sept. 14, 1926 1,674,600 MacKenzie June 19, 1928 1,979,899 OBrien et a1 Nov. 6, 1934 King Dec. 1, 1936 

